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Why You Are Engaging in PGR Studies
Foundations for Success
Postgraduate Research Myths Debunked
Taking Control to Make This Work for You
Using the Resources Available
Making the Research Process Work for You
Managing Adversity
Planning for the World After

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Home / Richard reflects on how he kept and maintained his motivation during his PGR studies. As a recently finished PGR student Richard reflects his motivation.

Richard reflects on how he kept and maintained his motivation during his PGR studies. As a recently finished PGR student Richard reflects his motivation.

In this section

Managing Adversity
Effective Communication
Addressing Conflict
Working With Negative Emotions
When Things Go Wrong
What is the Real Problem?
Talking to Your University
Supporting Yourself When Things go Wrong
Real Life Continues Despite Your PGR
Finding Acceptance to Find Solutions
Finding Acceptance to Find Solutions
Addressing Conflict
Working With Negative Emotions
When Things Go Wrong
What is the Real Problem?
Choosing Your Supervisor
Building Professional Support Networks
Using the Resources Available
Building Professional Support Networks
Using Your Existing Support Networks
Using the Expertise of Academic Staff
University Resources
The Student Union isn’t Just for Undergraduates
Not Everyone Needs to Understand Your PGR Studies
Managing Your Supervisor
Keep Your Family and Friends Educated
Identifying Resources
Finding Out What Support is Available
Finding Friends At University
Building Professional Support Networks
Building Professional Support Networks
Using the Expertise of Academic Staff
University Resources
The Student Union isn’t Just for Undergraduates
Not Everyone Needs to Understand Your PGR Studies
Managing Your Supervisor
Keep Your Family and Friends Educated
Identifying Resources
Finding Out What Support is Available
Finding Friends At University
Taking Control to Make This Work for You
Working with Uncertainty
Using Multiple Identities to Your Advantage
The Importance of Planned Structure
Stages of PGR Student Identity
Predictable Time Off
Marking Your Progress – Celebrate Your Wins
Linking Back to Meaning and Goals
Challenges of Freedom and Responsibility
Building your Identity as a Researcher – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Building your Identity as a Researcher – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
Using Multiple Identities to Your Advantage
The Importance of Planned Structure
Stages of PGR Student Identity
Predictable Time Off
Marking Your Progress – Celebrate Your Wins
Linking Back to Meaning and Goals
Challenges of Freedom and Responsibility
Postgraduate Research Myths Debunked
“You Should Have Better Results Than This by Now”
“PGR Students Should Work Very Long Hours”
“PGR Students Owe a Debt”
“PGR Students are Invisible Within Their University Community”
“It is Inevitable That PGR Students Become Stressed or Mentally Ill”
“A PhD is Pointless if you don’t get a Lecturing Job”
“All PGR Students Should be Publishing all the Time”
“All PGR Students Should be Publishing all the Time”
“PGR Students Should Work Very Long Hours”
“PGR Students Owe a Debt”
“PGR Students are Invisible Within Their University Community”
“It is Inevitable That PGR Students Become Stressed or Mentally Ill”
“A PhD is Pointless if you don’t get a Lecturing Job”
Stress
7/11 Breathing
Emotional Hi-jacking
Managing Stress
Stretch v Stress
Foundations for Success
7/11 Breathing
Emotional Hi-jacking
Finding a Balance Under Pressure
The Importance of Taking Breaks
Maintaining Motivation
Managing Stress
Digital Wellbeing – How to Have a Healthy Digital Diet
Physical Wellbeing and Academic Performance
Physical Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing
Sleep and Why it is Important
Stretch v Stress
Tips for Maintaining Good Physical Wellbeing
Tips to Improve Your Sleep
The Impact of Sleep on Problem Solving
Human Performance and Wellbeing
Human Performance and Wellbeing
The Importance of Taking Breaks
Maintaining Motivation
Digital Wellbeing – How to Have a Healthy Digital Diet
Physical Wellbeing and Academic Performance
Physical Wellbeing and Mental Wellbeing
Sleep
Sleep and Why it is Important
Tips to Improve Your Sleep
The Impact of Sleep on Problem Solving
Tips for Maintaining Good Physical Wellbeing
Why You Are Engaging in PGR Studies
Intrinsic and Extrinsic Approaches
Setting Meaningful Goals
Finding Meaning in Your Subject
Finding Meaning in Your Subject – Even if you Didn’t Choose it
Why Undertake Postgraduate Research?
Deep and Surface Learning
Deep and Surface Learning
Setting Meaningful Goals
Finding Meaning in the PGR Process Itself
Finding Meaning in Your Subject
Finding Meaning in Your Subject – Even if you Didn’t Choose it
Why Undertake Postgraduate Research?
Making the Research Process Work for You
Using the Structure of the Research Degree to Help you
Research Doesn’t Happen in a Straight Line
Learning to Love Your Ethics Form
Enhancing Creativity
Creativity in Research
Creativity in Research
Research Doesn’t Happen in a Straight Line
Learning to Love Your Ethics Form
Enhancing Creativity
Talking to Your University
Supporting Yourself When Things go Wrong
Real Life Continues Despite Your PGR
Planning for the World After
What Matters in Your Career
Tomorrow Isn’t Forever – A Career in Steps
The Skills and Knowledge of a Doctor
The Importance of Planned Happenstance
The Importance of Planned Happenstance
Tomorrow Isn’t Forever – A Career in Steps
The Skills and Knowledge of a Doctor
The Importance of Planned Happenstance
Finding Acceptance to Find Solutions
Creativity in Research
Building Professional Support Networks
Building your Identity as a Researcher – Overcoming Imposter Syndrome
“All PGR Students Should be Publishing all the Time”
Human Performance and Wellbeing
Deep and Surface Learning

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The Wellbeing Thesis content has been developed by the University of Derby, King's College London, Student Minds and PGR student co-creation panels. Content written by Gareth Hughes, University of Derby and Ann Kirkman, University of Derby.

The funding partners are the Office for Students and Research England. Our thanks are extended to expert contributors.

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